.401 Bobcat - 250 gr WFN

[Lee Martin]

I re-sized a few hundred 41-cal WFNs for my 401 Bobcat and finally got them to the range. They're the 250 grain non-gas checked bullet. 22.5 of H110 averaged 1,455 fps over the chronograph. Pretty stout but not quite max (I think 1,500 fps can be safely achieved):





You 401 Powermag shooters may want to consider swaging these to 10mm....they flew great.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

[2 Dogs]

I wish I could find some spare cylinders for my Buckeye. I might have to have one rechambered to the 401 calibre....

[Lee Martin]

That's a good base for a magnum 10 Fermin. Are you leaning towards a 401 Powermag?

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

[2 Dogs]

Lee, the one I have has the 10mm cylinder rechambered to minimum spec's by Dustin Linebaugh and the factory barrel. Its a excellent shooter and a vicious killer. I "executed" several trapped hogs with it earlier this year and it hits HARD.

It pretty much already does what I need it to do, I just like WILDCATS!

[dmize]

Im sitting here with a 10mm cylinder that for me is as about as useful as a football bat ...Not wanting to sell it but contemplating the possibilities is a bit fun.

[mnimrod45]

I love the looks of that bullet. That round could be a lot of fun.

[maxcactus]

Jan 20, 2013 17:12:29 GMT -5 mnimrod45 said:

I love the looks of that bullet. That round could be a lot of fun.

Ditto! That projectile is MEAN looking, esp in that long, skinny cartridge! Everytime I read about your .401s, Lee, I'm thoroughly impressed with both the concept and your execution! I really hope this can become a SAAMI blessed and factory chambered round some day!

[bigboredad]

I really like that bullet it looks like it should be super accurate with a good sized me plat for a good smack down power.

[2 Dogs]

Dmize, let me know what it would take to beat you out of that cylinder. I have lots of 10mm stuff! :-)

[Lee Martin]

A 10mm Buckeye cylinder would be perfect for a 401 Powermag or the 1.29" Bobcat. The round pictured above however is too long. At 1.40" you need a cylinder that uses the entire frame window.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

[maxcactus]

Okay, now I have to ask a couple questions:

1. Is anything more than a new custom cylinder and barrel necessary for this conversion (brass, obviously).

2. Have any custom smiths other than the Martins made one of these? In other words, would a smith be familiar with the round and be able to find the necessary reamer?

[Lee Martin]

It depends on which version of the Bobcat your want. The 1.29" length can fit a standard Ruger cylinder (third from left loaded with a 230 gr Keith):



The 401 Bobcat pictured at the top of this post is the 1.40" version and does require a custom cylinder (fourth from left in the above, 265 gr cast).

About 10 years ago I pestered Starline to do a run of 20,000 properly headstamped 1.40" Bobcats. I was going to sell some as is and trim others to 1.29". They weren't interested in such low volume so it never took off. I was hoping to sell reamers and dies if folks wanted to build one.

I believe the only Bobcats out there are the ones we've done. A guy in Oregon told me he was going to have custom reamers and dies built for a Blackhawk conversion. Not sure if he ever converted one however.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Building carpal tunnel one round at a time"

[gjn]

I had an extra cylinder for my S&W 610 chambered to 10mm mag. which Starline does make brass for. Doesn't do anything I can't do with the 41 mag. but it's different and I like it. Not really a wildcat but it does help scratch that itch.